Boulder Valley is moving forward with plans to create a district air quality advisory committee, as well as an interim committee to focus on Casey Middle School air quality issues.

The school board at Tuesday's meeting plans to provide feedback on a district proposal for both committees, with a vote likely later this month. Members would apply and be appointed by the board.

"These committees are a positive outcome of the air quality challenges at Casey," said school board President Sam Fuqua. "I'm looking forward to getting the district committee set up. It's a good next step. One of the lessons from Casey is we need to stay on top of air quality."

There have been concerns raised about the presence of hydrogen sulfide, signaled by an intermittent stink of rotten eggs, since Casey was rebuilt in 2009 and 2010 for $33 million.

Last school year, parents and teachers came forward with health concerns they believed were caused by exposure to hydrogen sulfide and demanded the district do more to address the issue.

In response to those concerns, Superintendent Bruce Messinger is recommending the independent interim air quality committee to monitor data and address any continuing issues at Casey.

The Casey committee would be charged with disseminating air quality information to the school community, as well as registering air quality complaints and disseminating information.

The recommendation is for up to 10 members, who would include the principal, an administrative support staff member, a custodian staff member, a health services staff member, a food services staff member, two teachers and two parents.

"The committee can talk about what we need going forward to next year," Messinger said.

The full district committee would work with the University of Tulsa's indoor air quality program. The district recently hired the University of Tulsa as a consultant to develop an indoor air quality program, with a price tag of $257,174.

The consultant is tasked with conducting a review of the indoor air quality at each school and making recommendations on existing or alternative systems, along with establishing a districtwide air quality team and a management plan for each school.

Once baseline air quality data is collected, district officials said, they can use that information in repairing and updating air handling systems as part of the construction work from the $576 million bond issue voters approved in 2014.

The committee would be tasked with disseminating air quality information, registering air quality complaints and directing responses, and communicating air quality issues and status.

The recommendation is for 15 to 20 members, including school principals, district operations staff members, teachers, a school nurse, community health care professionals and parent or community representatives.

Each school also would appoint a liaison to the committee, giving the school community a direct way to report air quality concerns.

School board member Shelly Benford, who has been critical of the district's initial handling of air quality complaints at Casey, said she wants to make sure both committees can provide a school board directed, independent review of air quality complaints and district actions.

"I look forward to discussing it in more detail with the whole board," she said.

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